Juvenile to be tried as adult in home invasion

A 16-year-old Uncasville boy will be tried as an adult in New London Superior Court for his alleged role in the armed invasion of an Oakdale home on April 5.

Shaun Jones of 65 Kitemaug Road was charged last week with home invasion, attempted first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, attempted fourth-degree larceny, criminal use of a weapon and first-degree threatening. He made his first appearance today in the courtroom where major crimes are heard. He was initially arraigned in Juvenile Court, but the case was transferred to adult court because of the serious nature of the charges. He will be represented by attorney Linda J. Sullivan, who entered a not guilty plea on his behalf today.

Because of his age, Judge Susan B. Handy appointed Jones’ grandfather as his guardian for the proceeding and allowed him to stand with Jones. Jones hugged the grandfather before he was led back to the courthouse lockup by judicial marshals. He is being held at a juvenile detention center in lieu of $75,000 bond. His next court date is May 8.

According to state police, Jones and Zachary Spurgas, 23, of Bozrah, went to a home at 77 Lake Drive to rob 21-year-old Logan Marsh of Opanas, a potent opiate pain medication. Spurgas wore a ski mask and the juvenile wore a bandana over his face and carried a handgun, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The masked men confronted Marsh in his bedroom at about 1:20 a.m. When Marsh told them he didn't have any drugs, Jones struck him in the head with the gun and told him to "stop lying," as Spurgas went through Marsh's possessions, according to the affidavit.

Marsh's father, James Marsh, told police he woke up to hear voices in his son's room. He said he watched the bedroom door to see who emerged and confronted the masked man who came out. He said he called for his son, who told him two people were attempting to rob him, including one with a gun. Marsh said he followed the man — later identified as Spurgas — into the garage and asked him, "Who are you?" and "What are you doing in my house with a mask on?"

James Marsh and his wife, Patrice Marsh, retrieved a shotgun and handgun and held Spurgas until police arrived. Jones fled the house and ran into the woods and was arrested April 16.